Spring IPA | Abita Brewing Co.

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Taste: Smooth and approachable. Easy-going entrance on the palate, very mild hop presence. This feels like a pale ale that they want to call an IPA because that's the way the wind blows in the craft beer world these days. It's a pleasant pale ale that lacks any aggressive hop attack that you'd expect from an IPA. But, as you know, if it's called an IPA people will buy it.

this is a tasty enough beer, but it shouldn't be called an IPA if it isn't one.

Hey, let's read some back label gobbledygook: "Spring India Pale Ale is a West Coast-style IPA with an up-front intense hop flavor and aroma. Amarillo and Centennial hops give the brew a rich and resinous flavor of citrus and spice. This bright pale ale has a malt sweetness that will give way to a pleasant bitter." (Pleasant bitter what?)

Poured into a standard pint glass a chill hazed lighter golden with a half finger white head that left a broken ring of lace as it settled pretty quickly.Citric hops in the nose along with some caramel/biscuit malts along with mild sugary-like sweetness.Grapefruit rind and lemon oil flavors over top of caramel malts on the palate.Well it's pretty straight forward,not very complex but it just tastes good.Well done Abita on this one.

Mouthfeel: sweetish start with bitterness towards the middle that is not as dominant towards the end, light bodied with high carbonation

Overall: This one blew me away. Not mouth puckeringly hop heavy for hop heads, but a brew with a lot of depth and complexity. Multiple layers of hops shine through. I prefer this a lot more than Jockamo IPA and would get this regularly if it were offered as more than a seasonal offering.

Fresh Spring seasonal IPA I'm game best by date is 8/3/14. Claims to be a West Coast style IPA the look is great clear copper body with an off white head forms thick and well carbonated semi thick lacing across the sides of my glass looks very enjoyable and tasty. Aroma has a very grainy malt bill, almost like somebody left the husks on the grain amongst that is an extremely sharp cat pee/crushed aspirin notes with some grapefruit citrus pith in the backend...that's it in the way of hops. The bottle says there's Amarillo/Centennial in this one so pretty dank overall. Flavor has a rush of hop bitterness with caramelized sugars/bread dough/nutty husky grain character with very raw hop pellets and dank bittering hops combo, again I get citrus pith and a lot of harsh volatile hop oils...not well balanced definitely bitter upfront and dry finish...there's not much finesse. What sets this apart from most West Coast IPAs is the lack of cohesion between the malt bill and the wild ass hop components. I always say the West Coast brewmasters have tamed the hop, that isn't so here, but at least they are getting locally Crafted hoppy brews down in Louisiana. Mouthfeel is slick with hop oils, I'm not sure if I just got some Butterscotch or other harsh solvent alcohol liquor like feel on the palate, but it was pleasant bitterness simply encompasses the palate. Overall I need more balance and hop flavors with less bitterness assault on the palate, feel like brushing your teeth...I do I do.

[Appearance: 4.0] The result of the pour is a honey-like opaque dark orange brew topped by a very white head that begins at one finger, settles only slowly, and ends the session with a cap of foam that deposits stringy lace on the glass.
[Aroma: 3.5] The aroma presents some earth with underlying grains and plenty of leaf with a pithy edge to it. Some candied sweetness rides with the bitterness.
[Flavor: 3.75] Hops bitterness is deeper and more pronounced, with a lot more perfume and leaf along with herbal notes to it. It's still accompanied by sweetness, this time more distinctly caramel, and some citrus fruits contributing as much peel and zest as anything. Grains and acidity reach into the finish, with a dryness hitting mid-way and lingering long.
[Mouthfeel: 4.25] This has the big brightness and zing of an IPA with lots of texture, crisp and biting but with lots of fluffy creaminess rolling on the palate. It works with a certain acidity and dryness, which might otherwise clash.